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2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

G. A. LOWRY.

; GRAIN BINDER.

No. 443,599. Patented Dec. 30, 1890.

UNITED STATES GEORGE A. LOIVRY, OF DES MOINES, IOWVA, ASSIGNOR TO THE ALLIANCE TIVINE COMPANY, OF SAME PLACE.

-GRAlN-BINDER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 443,599, dated December 30, 1890.

Application filed December 9, 1889. Serial No. 333,165. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, GEORGE A. Lownv, a citizen of the United States, residing at Des Moines, in the county of Polk and State of Iowa, have invented new and useful Improvements in Grain-Binders, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in grain-binders, and has for its object the improvement of the construction of certain details of such machines, all as will hereinafter be described, and more particularly pointed out in the claims.

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the several features of my invention mounted in operative relation, and Fig. 5 is a front view of the same with the supporting-frame in section. Fig. 2 is an inside elevation of an old form of twine-holder, and Fig. 3 is a similar view of my improved twine-holder. Fig. 4 is a plan view of a breast-plate and opposing plate having' a projection against which my retainingsprings hold the twine. Figs. 6, 7, 8, and 9 are detail views in different positions of my improved knotter-bill.

I have heretofore patented a particular kind of twine made from hay, grass, or straw, which is considerably stiffer than the twine usually employed, and I have found it advantageous to change the construction of some of the features of the ordinary grain -binding machines to adapt them to the stiff twine; but some of the features of my invention have individual merit apart from their utility in connection with a particular kind of twine, and I do not mean to limit myself to their use with this special twine; nor do I mean to limit myself to their use in connection with the form of grain-binder to which they are here shown as applied, for they are applicable to many other kinds of grain-binders.

One feature of my invention is a special form of knotter-bill, which will now be described.

In a well-known form. of knottcr bill the lower or stationary lip is provided with two vertical ribs, and the upper movable lip is ar ranged to act between these ribs and clamp the twine tightly against both ribs, thus pro viding a wide bearing or gripping surface.

In my device the lower stationary lip A has only one vertical rib a. On one side of this rib the lip is narrow and tapers inwardly. On the other side of this rib the lip is extended laterally, so as to make a comparatively wide flange at that point. The movable lip B is arranged over this narrow portion of the under lip and is correspondingly curved or tapered. The movable lip is recessed or cut away nearits under forward end. Then the knot is being made, the only hold or bite on the same will be at the point of the knotter-bill. The wide flange of the lip will keep the loop of the knot expanded, and the narrow tapered portion of the lip will permit it to slide forward and draw straight in line with said point of the knotter-bill. In this way the knot is kept straight, and the expanded loop and single point of bite causes the same to be readily withdrawn from the knotter-bill. The recess in the under forward end of the movable lip gives the twine a chance to swing around, and the hollow which is shown in the wide lateral flange affords room for the points of the twine to shelter.

After the knotting operation is completed there is usually a bit or shred of twine left clamped between the lips of the knotter-bill, and to remove this automatically I place a clearer c wit-h its end in the path of the rotating knotter-bill. I have shown this clearer in the form of a spring with a bent end; but it is obvious that it need not be a spring, and that its shape may be widely varied without departing from the spirit of this feature of my invention.

In a common form of twine-holder, as shown at Fig. 2, there is but one notch to hold the two strands of twine, and. consequently these strands lie one on the top of the other when they are presented to the knotter-bill, and the latter can catch only the lower strand. I, however, have made a twine-holder cl with two notches or recesses, one deeper than the other. By this means the strands are separated, and when under strain are presented to the knotter-bill in approximately horizontal arrangement, so that both must be seized by such knotter-bill.

A further feature of my invention is the whereby the twine is held or restrained while I spring-retainer c, which is attached to what is technically termed the teat, with its free end normally bearing upon the twine and restraining the latter While the knotter-bill is completing its rotation and until the bundle is caught by the Strippingarms.

I have shown the above-described features 1n connection with the frame-work and operating mechanism of a well-known style of machine, but with many of the details of the latter omitted.

It is obvious that my improvements may be readily applied to other types of machines by the exercise of ordinary mechanical skill.

that I claim is 1. The combination, with a knotter-bill, of a spring-clearer having its ends projecting into the path of the knotter-bill for the purpose of cleaning the latter of debris left after the removal of the twine, substantially as shown and described.

2. The combination, with a knotter-bill, of a breast-plate provided with a projecting portion, and a spring-arm secured to such portion at one end and having its free end hearing upon a projection on the opposite frame,

the knotter-bill is completing its rotation, substantially as shown and described.

3. In a grain-binder, the combination of the usual revoluble notched disk or equivalent device with a twine-holder comprising a frame with two notches or recesses of. different depths, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

4:. The combinatiomin a knotter-bill, of a stationary lip having a single vertical rib,a wide lateral flange or extension upon one side thereof, and a narrow flange upon its other side, with a movable lip for operation in conjunction therewith, substantially as shown and described.

5. The combination, in a knotter bill, of a stationary lip having a single vertical rib, a wide lateral flange or extension upon one side thereof, and a narrow tapering and rounded flan ge upon its other side, with a movable lip recessed on its under surface and curved and beveled toward its point, substantially as specified.

GEORGE A. LOWRY. \Vitncsses:

FRANCIS J. KENNET'I, JENNIE C. WtLsoN. 

